Hakubaku opened their organic noodle factory in Ballarat nearly 20 years ago because CEO Ryuji Nakamura said they wanted to be close to the best quality organic wheat. A shortage of organic wheat in recent years led to a supply partnership with Kilter Rural who manage over $200m in farmland and water assets in northern Victoria. Nakamura said it was the perfect opportunity for agribusiness to get into organics. 'Our philosophy and (Kilter Rural's) business philosophy is quite similar. They would like to have a long term customer and we needed a long term grower.'